State Dept, El Al Team Up to Return Americans Home

Over 2,000 Americans returned to the U.S. from Israel on discounted El Al flights.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:44am

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The U.S. State Department has partnered with El Al Airlines to arrange non-stop flights exclusively for American citizens from Tel Aviv to the United States. These flights have already allowed more than 2,000 American citizens to return home from Israel at a discounted rate.

Why it matters

The partnership between the State Department and El Al Airlines has provided a critical repatriation effort for American citizens in Israel who wished to return to the U.S. amid ongoing regional tensions and disruptions to commercial travel.

The details

El Al chartered flights from Israel to Newark and New York from March 16 to March 19, returning over 2,000 Americans to the U.S. at no cost to taxpayers. El Al is offering tickets for these flights at a discounted rate and has waived rebooking fees. The airline will also continue to reserve seats on regular U.S.-bound flights for Americans wishing to depart Israel. The State Department has also offered charter flight options and ground transportation to help Americans leave the region.

  • From March 16 to March 19, El Al operated chartered flights from Israel to the U.S.
  • El Al has scheduled 28 commercial flights to North America over the next 7 days.

The players

State Department

The U.S. government agency responsible for international relations and diplomacy.

El Al Airlines

The national airline of Israel, which has partnered with the U.S. State Department to provide discounted flights for American citizens leaving Israel.

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What they’re saying

“More than 70,000 Americans have left the Middle East and returned to the United States since February 28.”

— State Department

What’s next

The State Department and El Al Airlines will continue to work together to facilitate the return of American citizens from Israel to the United States in the coming days and weeks.

The takeaway

The partnership between the U.S. government and Israel's national airline has provided a vital lifeline for American citizens seeking to leave Israel amid regional tensions, demonstrating the importance of international cooperation during times of crisis.